Written by

Rusty Miller

Associated Press

College athletes can unionize, federal agency says

CHICAGO (AP) – In a stunning ruling that could revolutionize a college sports industry worth billions of dollars and have dramatic repercussion at schools coast to coast, a federal agency said Wednesday football players at Northwestern can create the nation’s first union of college athletes. The decision by a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board answered the question at the heart of the debate about the unionization bid: Do football players who receive full scholarships to the Big Ten school qualify as employees under federal law and therefore can legally unionize? Peter Sung Ohr, the NLRB regional director, said in a 24-page decision that the players “fall squarely” within the broad definition of employee. Pro-union activists cheered as they learned of the ruling. “It’s like preparing so long for a big game and then when you win — it is pure joy,” said former UCLA linebacker Ramogi Huma, the designated president of Northwestern’s would-be football players’ union.

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COLUMBUS – It’ll be difficult for Ohio State to replace Carlos Hyde.

All the senior did in 2013 for the Buckeyes was rush for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 11 games, becoming the first running back to top 1,000 yards in Urban Meyer’s 12 years as a head coach.

Although it might be hard finding someone to fill his spot, that doesn’t mean it won’t get done.

“Someone has to step up and fill the shoes of Carlos Hyde,” running backs coach Stan Drayton said after a recent spring practice. “If it takes more than one guy to do that, I promise you it’s going to get done.”

There are several candidates in Ohio State’s spring camp. Ezekiel Elliott, the leading returning rusher at running back with 262 yards on only 30 carries, would seem to have the inside track.

“I just think that I’m a very versatile back. I can do a lot of things,” said the sophomore, a prized recruit from St. Louis. “I can run to the outside, I can run a tight zone, I’m a great pass catcher out of the back field. I think I just bring a little versatility to the table.”

Elliott said he’s bulked up, gotten stronger and faster and knows the playbook far better than he did in 2013.

But there still are moments when he looks and acts like the youngster he is.

“Which is unfortunate,” offensive coordinator Tom Herman said.

The other three possibilities in spring camp all have some baggage.

Rod Smith, a prototypical Ohio State big back at 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds, is a fifth-year senior who has had chances to play more but never has really grasped them. He did well at the outset of 2013 as Hyde was serving a three-game suspension for a physical confrontation with a woman at a bar. But after Hyde became available, he seldom saw the field.

He has some skills to display this spring.

“Just that I can do everything that Carlos did: Break tackles, make the home-run plays, pass protection,” he said. “At the end of the day, be accountable, be a leader.”

Also in the conversation is third-year sophomore Bri’onte Dunne, an acclaimed recruit out of football hotbed Canton who dropped from hot commodity to just another contender for playing time. In 2013, he was redshirted.

Asked if he thinks he’s in the mix to start this fall, he said: “Oh, yeah. Of course. Everybody’s in the mix right now. There’s really no depth chart right now for the running backs. So everybody’s just going hard and trying to fight for the spot.”

Warren Ball — a former walk-on — also is getting carries, as is freshman Curtis Samuel, who graduated early from his high school in Brooklyn, N.Y., to play spring ball with the Buckeyes.

Dontre Wilson, who played well in limited action as a ball carrier as a freshman, is working out with the receivers group as an H-back, a hybrid between a receiver and a running back.

Instead of one go-to guy such as Hyde at the position, it just might end up being several backs, taking turns.

No matter the eventual starter, Drayton is adamant the position is a high priority.

“I’m extremely confident that we’re going to get to where we need to be,” Drayton said. “They’re trying to be the hardest working unit on the football field and I really see them trying to do that. If they keep that mind-set and keep that unselfishness in their back pocket somewhere, we’re definitely going to exceed our goals. I really believe that.”